#22: What's your problem with workplace conflict?

Love might be in the air this February, but what relationship is without its spats? As CIPD research recently found conflict to be “very much part of organisational life”, we set out to learn how to walk towards conflict and have better workplace disagreements.

People Management’s Lilly Howlett and Siobhan Palmer spoke to Richard Watkins, founder and director of Let’s Go, and learned that ‘shithousing’ others’ ideas can be just as helpful as ‘greenhousing’ them in positivity.

CEO of UK Mediation Dr Mike Talbot also taught us how to ‘launder’ our language to help manage and resolve conflicts at work, and even prevent some of them from happening in the first place.

And, following the first two rounds of the 2020 Six Nations, former England rugby player Jon Sleightholme takes us through his transition from elite sport to the world of HR.Plus Tim Pointer helps a listener caught in the middle of a thorny workplace romance. Don't forget to give us your feedback by tweeting us at @peoplemgt or email pmeditorial@haymarket.com.Thank you to our guests from this episode:Richard Watkins, founder and director of Let’s GoDr Mike Talbot, CEO of UK MediationJon Sleightholme, former international rugby player and Director of Evolve HR ConsultingTim Pointer, founder of Starboard Thinking

#21: New year, better wellbeing?

At the start of the year, many people resolve to ditch alcohol and junk food and hit the gym in a bid to get healthy – and many businesses are using this to bolster their health and wellbeing offerings for 2020. So there’s no better time for That HR Podcast to closely examine organisational wellbeing, and ask if employers are starting to look beyond token gestures.

People Management’s Francis Churchill and Maggie Baska are put through their paces at Drag Diva Fit – one of London’s more unique fitness offerings – and talk to Jordan Flaste, director and fitness ringleader, to find out how working out can bolster staff wellbeing.Plus Stephen Bevan, head of HR research development for the Institute of Employment Studies (IES), and Dr Caroline Marlow, director of L&M Consulting, advise how businesses can encourage staff to be healthier in 2020.

And how would you know if someone was lying to you at work? Ian Mason, a non-verbal behaviour consultant and expert in deception at work, discusses how people professionals can become the Sherlock Holmes of their organisations.

Plus Tim Pointer helps a listener dealing with the awkwardness of being their line manager’s ‘reluctant favourite’.

Don't forget to give us your feedback by tweeting us at @peoplemgt or email pmeditorial@haymarket.com.

#20: What the roaring twenties might bring for HR

It’s been a long year, let alone decade. Before many people wind down to celebrate Christmas and see in the new year, That HR Podcast sat down with some industry experts to break down some of the biggest topics affecting HR, from equal pay to Brexit.

Lilly Howlett and Siobhan Palmer spoke to former Royal Mail CEO and #MeTooPay advocate Dame Moya Greene, and Hannah Netherton, partner at CMS Law, to get to the bottom of the gender pay gap. Is it all a problem of progression opportunities for women, or are some companies just not compensating their female employees equally?

And we quizzed CIPD labour market economist Jon Boys and Nicky Costa – founder of consultancy Kinesis People and board member on the London HR Connection – about their predictions for the next decade.

Plus, Tim Pointer advises a listener who is struggling to make a dignified exit after resigning amid organisational change.

Don't forget to give us your feedback by tweeting us at @peoplemgt or email pmeditorial@haymarket.com.

#19: What could HR do with better data?

Broadcasting from HR’s most anticipated event of the year, the People Management team took the pulse of the profession at the CIPD’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Manchester – including a discussion of the power of analytics to drive progress in inclusion.

Maggie Baska and Siobhan Palmer discuss data with Trevor Phillips – writer, broadcaster and chairman of Green Park Interim and Executive Search – and the CIPD’s CEO, Peter Cheese, and get to the bottom of whether legislative drives for pay reporting have helped or hindered the cause of inclusion in business.

And hear what attendees had to tell Lilly Howlett, who was right in the middle of the conference and exhibition.

Plus, Tim Pointer helps a listener who fears silly mistakes and imposter syndrome could be hindering their chances of getting ahead in their learning and development career.

Don't forget to give us your feedback by tweeting us at @peoplemgt or email pmeditorial@haymarket.com.

#18: How far should employee monitoring go?

Have you ever felt like somebody is watching you? Every day, we receive dozens of emails, interact with colleagues via instant messengers and increasingly use internal social media to document our output – all of which can be now be used by employers to gain greater insights into what’s happening at work.

In this episode of That HR Podcast, People Management’s Lilly Howlett and Maggie Baska discuss how far employee monitoring can go with Ankur Modi, the founder and chief executive of Status Today, and Ed Houghton, head of research at the CIPD. They ask if increasing use of employee monitoring is truly good for business or a dangerous intrusion.

And in the modern workplace, HR professionals wear multiple hats as coaches, teachers and employment law specialists – but how about also being a couples counsellor? We meet Amanda Hughes, who went from being a successful people professional to helping people work on a very different kind of relationship.

Plus, Tim Pointer helps a listener concerned they are being asked to unfairly work overtime on projects that their colleague can’t do because of caring responsibilities.

Don't forget to give us your feedback by tweeting us at @peoplemgt or email pmeditorial@haymarket.com.

Thank you to our guests from this episode:

Ankur Modi, the founder and chief executive of Status TodayEd Houghton, head of research at the CIPDAmanda Hughes, couples psychotherapist and clinical lecturer with Tavistock RelationshipsTim Pointer, founder of Starboard Thinking

#17: Who actually knows what HR does?

The future of the people profession depends on attracting the brightest and best minds. But HR faces a particular problem: many graduates and others entering the labour market aren’t sure what it actually involves.

In this episode of That HR Podcast, People Management’s Maggie Baska and Lilly Howlett discuss how HR can compete for talent with portfolio careerist and former HR leader Guy Pink and Yvonne Smyth, director of Hays’ human resources recruitment business. They ask whether the people profession needs a better marketing campaign to recruit the next generation of talent, and whether it matters that HR isn’t widely understood.

And brush up on your favourite Shakespearean monologue and step into the spotlight – we’re exploring how drama and actor training can help business leaders conquer their stagefright in the workplace.

Plus, Tim Pointer helps a listener concerned about how to handle a burgeoning office romance.

Don't forget to give us your feedback by tweeting us at @peoplemgt or email pmeditorial@haymarket.com.

Thank you to our guests from this episode:

Guy Pink, portfolio careerist and former HR director of AddactionYvonne Smyth, director of Hays human resources recruitment businessRichard Keith, voice and communication coach at the Royal Central School of Speech and DramaTim Pointer, founder of Starboard Thinking